Today, Pauline turns 14! I am just so amazed as to how she is fast turning into a fine young lass. Four years ago, I was kinda worried, she was anti-social—she didn’t have any friends among her classmates. She made friends with girls 2 batches higher, who acted like they were her big sisters. She didn’t join school activities, she didn’t even smile, her grades were so so. She was unhappy.
Until the time she auditioned and was accepted at the Ateneo Children’s Theater, a prestige for any Miriam College student. Grades 5-6 students from MC were allowed to audition with the ACT, provided their grades were within a certain minimum. She was able to get away without submitting requirements (maybe because her 2 elder brothers and sister were long running members of ACT). Even if her grades did not qualify her to be an ACT member, she continued joining workshops and rehearsals. Finally, she could no longer delay submitting the final requirement—the Assistant Principal’s approval. She pleaded that I intercede for her. How could I not give it a try, when I saw how she has transformed into a happy, active and committed student.
The AP accommodated the appointment, but was at first adamant into giving her approval. Rules were rules. Gosh! I remember how I pleaded, forgot shame, humbled myself, and bargained, so that my Pauline could be given the chance to prove her worth. In the end, the three of us (AP, Pau and myself) signed an agreement. At any given time that she would have grades below the minimum for at least 2 subjects, she would be pulled out of ACT, even if it was already showtime.
I saw the big change in her. She spent extra hours in the evening studying her lessons and doing her homework. Most important of all was that she was happy, she was smiling, she had friends her age.
When the AP saw Pau’s report card the next grading period, she thought there was a big mistake. She had to double check with the teachers, who confirmed that indeed, Pau’s performance took a total turn around. Her grades even qualified her for honors. It was a total paradigm shift, the AP told me.
Pauline has emerged from her shell into a fine young lass that she is today. She is happier, more active in school and out of school activities. She is in the school’s pep squad and gymnastics. She plays the piano and guitar wonderfully well even without lessons. She goes for street dancing. She is closer to her 2 elder sisters and 3 elder brothers, and kinder to her younger brother, Alan Jr. Sometimes, I wonder, would Pauline have been different, if at that very moment, she was not given a chance?
Happy 14th birthday, dear Pauline. May all your dreams come true, may you have your heart’s desire, on this your special day. And most of all, may you always be safe and blessed! We love you very much!
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37 responses so far ↓
chase // May 26, 2007 at 7:05 am
Pauline is very pretty like mommy and happy birthday to her!
amicus curiae // May 26, 2007 at 7:16 am
That’s a very lovely daughter you’ve got.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Pauline!
Kyameel // May 26, 2007 at 7:54 am
That is awesome how she has broken out of her shell.
__
Happy Birthday to Pauline!
jho // May 26, 2007 at 8:35 am
Happy birthday to your dear Pauline!
It’s a good thing she was given a chance to prove herself. She definitely changed a lot since that chance.
I know that you are proud of her.
Kyels // May 26, 2007 at 11:46 am
Happy Birthday Pauline!
[:
All the best to you and may your future undertakings be successful!
niceheart // May 26, 2007 at 12:32 pm
She’s so pretty. Happy birthday to her.
Pareho pala kaming May. Nauna lang ako ng 2 days.
SexyMom: Belated Happy Birthday, Catherine. May you have your Nice Heart’s desire on your special day.
princess // May 26, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Happy Birthday, Pauline.
Dine, you’ve got a very lovely daughter.
Sana may babae rin akong anak. I read somewhere that “with a daughter you have her forever, with a son, you have him until he gets married.” Totoo kaya ‘yon?
SexyMom: Maybe true, but we are yet to see. As to son, I don’t know because eldest son, J Angelo, though already married, still sees me, calls me, chats with me, and works with me.
tofubaby // May 26, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Tita Dine, you indeed have a lovely daughter. Mana sa sa ina.
To Pauline, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Wish you all the best.
Alternati // May 26, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Most parents are scared when their kids start to transform into adolescents… So it’s really refreshing to read how happy you are that she is coming to her own.
Happy Birthday to Pauline! You must really be proud of her.
myepinoy // May 26, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Happy Birthday Pauline!
May God bless you always.
maki // May 26, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Happy Birthday to my cousin’s best friend!
KidBlogger // May 26, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Wow! Happy b-day pauline
And guess what? I also turned 14 only yesterday though 
SexyMom: congratulations, Carl! you are only 14 years old, and you are already so innovative. happy birthday! i wish you all the luck.
btw, Carl, i tried to greet you by posting a comment in your site, but i was not successful, i was asked for a valid email address, and my gmail account was not accepted.
feng // May 26, 2007 at 9:34 pm
happy happy birthday to dear Pauline.
mr nice ash // May 26, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Happy birthday…
Belle // May 27, 2007 at 12:17 am
she is so charming so are the rest of your girls. wish her all the best on her birthday.
carla // May 27, 2007 at 7:02 am
Happy birthday and God bless to Pauline! =)
julie // May 27, 2007 at 10:52 am
Happy Birthday Pauline! You are a pretty young lady.
lady cess // May 27, 2007 at 12:45 pm
happy birthday pauline! starstruck in the making yata ang daughter nyo mommy dine
btw, im glad to have finally met you
talagang sexy mom ka nga.
SexyMom: Lady Cess, it was to meet you and the other moms at PMN. now, we have connected the names with the faces. hope to see you again next time!
Eli // May 27, 2007 at 3:28 pm
You have one fine lady there. Manang mana sa mommy…
Give my regards, and belated happy birtday!
sesame // May 27, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Happy Birthday Pauline. Pretty girl you are!
kimmy // May 27, 2007 at 4:18 pm
happy birthday to pauline! a very bright future ahead of her. no doubt she’s gonna go far.
Jaypee // May 27, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Happy Birthday to Pauline! May God continue to bless her studies and all other endeavors. I’m sure you’re proud of her and you should be. Part of her success is also because she has someone like you.
Sexy Mom // May 27, 2007 at 7:11 pm
MANY MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, WHO HAVE GREETED PAULINE ON HER SPECIAL DAY. SHE, AND HER SIBLINGS, HAD FUN READING YOUR COMMENTS!
Tiffany // May 27, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Happy birthday, Pauline!
I really applaud those who get to give their grades a huge turn around—it takes a lot of effort!
Rach // May 27, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Hi Dine. Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter Pauline. It’s great that many wonderful doors have opened for her and I hope that many more great opportunities will come her way.
It was great to finally meet you in person. I wished we had more time to talk. Hope we can have another get together in the future. Take care and have a great week ahead.
salen // May 27, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Hi, Dine!
Happy Birthday to Pauline! Im very sure she will have a bright future ahead of her esp. with a mom like you guiding her.
Nice to have met you.
Belle // May 28, 2007 at 2:28 am
she has a bubbly personality, i can tell. such a pretty girl, in fact, all your girls are pretty and they take it from their mother, of course.
hope, i am not too late in wishing Pauline a happy happy birhtday!
Connecting Names (rather blogs) with Faces at Pinoy Moms Network : The D Spot // May 28, 2007 at 3:26 am
[...] the last minute, I realized that it was Pauline’s birthday, though weeks earlier I confirmed that I was free for MOMmy Lunch with the Pinoy Moms Network, but [...]
vk // May 28, 2007 at 5:35 am
Belated Happy Birthday, Pauline,
more bdays to come, good health, more good lucks and God Bless You always…..
belated Happy Birthday…............
bw // May 28, 2007 at 6:30 am
very pretty daughter, a chip off the old block ! Happy Bday and may you have lots more to come
maki // May 28, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Belated Happy Birthday to my cousin’s Best Friend!
tina // May 28, 2007 at 1:13 pm
happy birthday Pauline!
Diogenes // Jun 2, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Happy birthday to another potential blogger
Dan Hellbound // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Wow. An absolute stunner, indeed. Lovely daughter you have there.
A belated “Happy Birthday!” greeting from me to her.
garganeraboy // Jun 9, 2007 at 8:04 am
can i know your daughter? hehe.its me. pretty pala daughter mo….
SexyMom: hey, Miah, your girlfriend is watching!
Ingat–Just What Does It Mean? : The D Spot // May 24, 2008 at 3:55 pm
[...] to prepare cards or letters for our parents. Or when we wrote them in greeting cards. Daughter Pauline rarely says “I love you”, but when she says our shouts it, it means she really means [...]
What did the Atlantic Ocean say to the Pacific Ocean? : The D Spot // Aug 24, 2008 at 5:05 am
[...] these changed when Pau auditioned with the Ateneo Children’s Theater, and was accepted. This has perhaps given her the [...]
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